Halcyon London International School

The Wellbeing Programme is designed as a student-led, holistic approach to wellbeing. Halcyon uses a human-centred approach with relational foundations that foster autonomy and agency in learning. Students take ownership of their mental and emotional health, gaining lifelong skills for self-care and resilience. Wellbeing is foundational to academic, emotional, and social flourishing; when students feel safe, valued, and supported, they are more engaged. All teachers are trained as cognitive coaches and every student is assigned a teacher-mentor, with at least 15 minutes of private mentoring each week. The Wellbeing Team includes a Student Wellbeing Lead, a Restorative Practitioner, a Learning Coach, a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a Deputy.

Halcyon's admissions policy expects a strong academic background to manage the IB curriculum. The school is resourced to provide accommodations for frequently occurring needs for neurodivergent learners. A counselling service supports social, emotional and mental health needs. The school aims to unlock each student's potential through personalised educational approaches within an inclusive learning environment. Every child is encouraged to participate in all aspects of school life; the additional educational needs provision is an integral part of classroom practice and includes Classroom Support, Differentiated Lessons, Digital Tools, Small Group Sessions, In-Class Assistance, Specialist Support, and a Dedicated Learning Coach.

English Plus (EAL) is part of Halcyon's languages programme. It provides opportunities for students arriving from around the world to learn English. English Plus began with the arrival of IB English teacher Lindsey Fairweather in 2020 and has evolved since. It is delivered in coordination with Rahana Ahmed, who also supports progression to English B (Grades 10-12). The program is woven into subjects like science and maths, with teachers contributing to multilingual learners.

The school provides a counsellor available two days a week to support student mental health. Counselling sessions are available to anyone in the community, whether referred by the Wellbeing Team or requested directly. Mindfulness is embedded in classroom practice and all teachers are cognitively trained to deliver it. The Wellbeing Team includes a Student Wellbeing Lead, a Restorative Practitioner, a Learning Coach, a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a Deputy, ensuring mental wellbeing is a centralized concern. The Wellbeing Programme uses the Human Givens Institute's Emotional Needs Audit to address core emotional needs.

Halcyon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. Safeguarding and child protection is everyone's responsibility; this policy applies to all staff, volunteers and trustees and extends to extended school and off-site activities. Staff and volunteers are expected to act in the best interests of the child and maintain an ‘it could happen here' mindset. The safeguarding team includes staff such as Asil Al-Shammari and Shah-Noor Ashraf. The school maintains staff recruitment safety procedures and anti-bullying and health and safety policies that apply across the school.